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What are the Best FM tuners?

This is an often asked question. This is my current list of favorites:
A. Good out of the box, judging sound quality only, not in order of preference because each has merits:

1. Very rare Accuphase T-103
2. 1 out of 10 Tandberg TPT 3001As
3. Onkyo T-909
4. Bogen TP-100
5. Akai AT-S7
6. JVC FX-1100B
7. NEC T-710
8. Onix Audio BWD-1
9. Kenwood KT-990D
10.Crown FM-2
11.Marantz ST-17
12.Sim Audio "Moon"

B. Modified tuners, both RF and audio performance, in order of preference:

1. Kenwood KT-727
2. Kenwood KT-3200D
3. NEC T-6E
4. SAE 8000
5. Accuphase T-101
6. Sony ST-S550ES
7. Onkyo T-4500
8. Tandberg TPT-3011A
9. McIntosh MR-74
10.Luxman T-110
11.Onkyo T-909
12.MD-102, early version

Sure, there are others -- and you may have your own opinions -- but these have proven to be excellent choices over the past 20 years.
bdscott

Showing 1 response by umn

umn
64 posts
 
One really has to be specific in what "best" means.
Some tuners are better in pulling in distant stations ("Dx'ing) Some are better sounding (but are not great in pulling in distant stations.) Some are better for popular and rock stations (where the radio stations often juice the sound). Others are better for classical stations (with an unmodified sound.)
I live 30 miles from New York City on a hill and leave my tuner set on a classical WQXR. For my application, a vintage tube Scott 350 is great. Many of the tuners on your list would not sound nearly as good.
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